Teen Program Explores Health Careers
Anthea Lim, PsyD, wishes she had encountered a program like the Program for Investigation and Training for Careers in Health (PITCH) during her high school years.
"This could have been a pivotal moment for me and inspired me," said Lim, a student outreach coordinator for the UCSF Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP), which serves Bay Area students who plan to pursue higher education.
Lim also oversees PITCH, a three-week CEP summer program designed to link rising high school juniors with mentors who can help them prepare for college and develop their research skills. With a 4-to-1 student-counselor ratio, PITCH offers students personalized attention as they explore careers in health and science, learn about the college application process and complete a capstone project that stresses teamwork and communication.
PITCH counselors also lead sessions called the "UCSF Experience," in which they walk students through an interactive lesson, such as how to perform a patient exam, to give them a sense of the work of health professionals.
""The more programs that these students have, the better," Lim said.